Hook forming assembly for automatic stem and mount making machines



Jan. 21, 1958 s. D. P. BRENT ETAL HOOK FORMING ASSEMBLY FOR AUTOMATIC STEM AND MOUNT MAKING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 28. 1954 m m z a P a M mm m 2 M L 2 Z r a m a 5 M n f n m. H E ,1 2m M; u .Vfl W n W 7 a H w J 0 m. 4m .K m W m N MM 9 m n m 3 a p u x I.|||l||-1l !m m m N D m M 0 8 I Z M m m i M M K 0 5 o 15 -1- w u m. m m u. a a a W m M m m E r m m; z m W Km r a M H m m WW m mp Jan. 21, 1958 G. b. P. BRENT ETAL {2,320,486 HOOK FORMING ASSEMBLY F OR AUTOMATIC STEM AND MOUNT MAKING MACHINES Filed Jan. 28. 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1401' I 33 51 32 I v1Q: T \V IN VEN TOR5 G. 0. P. FEE/v7,

Jan. 21, 1958 Filed Jan. 28, 195-4 P. BRENT ET AL HOOK FORMING ASSEMBLY FOR AUTOMATIC STEM AND MOUNT MAKING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TORJ G. D. E REA/7 HWF/VEK United States Patent- O HOOK FORMING ASSEMBLY FOR AUTOMATIC STEM AND MOUNT MAKING MACHINES George D. 1. Brent, Fairmount, W. Va., and Frederick W. Wacht, Roseland, N. J., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 23, 1954, Serial No. 406,834

Claims. (Cl. 14071.5)

The present invention relates to automatic stem and mount making machines and, more particularly, to a hook forming assembly therefor.

In the manufacture of incandescent lamps, particularly those of the miniature type such as, for example, Christmas tree lamps, the size of the leading-in and supporting conductors for lead-in wires has been reduced from .016" diameter to .012" diameter. In addition, these lamps have short inner lead-in wire portions which further complicate the hook forming operation to be performed on these lead-in wires on an automatic stem and mount making machine. Thus, these short small diameter lead-in wires have little or no resiliency; a characteristic which is undesirable in hook forming operations.

Using Eulers or Rankines theorems on columns and assuming an ideal case where the total of static forces is acting exactly on the center of the column, in this case the lead-in wire (which from the calculus of probability is impossible), the sum total of all static forces required to buckle the column or lead-in wire is .02 lb. Using a safety factor of (which is normal) produces a total force of 0.2 lb. This 0.2 lb. force represents the total static forces for which a hook former assembly must be constructed.

In actual operation, the hook forming is not performed at the center of the column or lead-in wire. The lead-in wire is formed at an angle. This angular forming introduces a moment arm which further reduces the possibility of properly forming the lead-in wire with existing equipment. In addition, the kinetic energy of the moving tools, or the dynamic forces which enter into the hook forming operation tend to make the performance of any work on the lead-in wires difiicult, if not impossible, at higher speeds of the stem and mount machine.

Hence, it has been found advantageous, according to our invention, to provide a hook forming assembly for a hook forming station of an automatic stem and mount making machine, which will form hooks in the lead wires, straighten both lead wires to the same position for the critical operations on succeeding stations (regardless of the fact that the lead-in wires have been subjectedto residual heat, and a lead wire positioner or centralizer at prior stations) and then retract without deforming the straight hooked lead-in wires. Straight lead-in wires permit straight clamps of the filament in the hooks thus elimi nating the scissor-like clamps or no clamps at all of the prior devices which often require high operator skill and produce consequent low production. In addition, our improved hook forming assembly eliminates one work station or position (lead wire straightening) onv the auto matic stern and mount making machine. This is due to the fact the lead wires are straightened during the hook forming operation, a feat that in the .past has not been accomplished.

Our hook forming assembly comprises a hook former block carrying the hook formers. The former block is mounted on. two spring loaded pins operating between stops byv means of a rack. During the first operation,

which is forming the hooks in the lead-in wires, a continued downward motion of the rack (through extensions contacting the former block) straightens the lead wires.

The rack then retracts lifting the formers slightly from the seats in the hooks and then pivots back from the lead wires without any distortion to the hooks in said lead-in wires.

In its general aspect the object of the present invention is a hook forming assembly for an automatic stern and mount making machine which will form hooks in short small diameter lead-in wires for miniature incandescent lamps without distortion and which will maintain the hooked lead-in wires in a straight position after the forming operation.

An additional object is a hook forming assembly for an automatic stem and mount making machine which will form hooks in short small diameter non-resilient lead-in. wires, straighten the lead-in wires after hook forming, lift the hook formers slightly from their seats in the formed hooks therein and then index or retract backwardly from the formed lead-in wires without any distortion thereto.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it appertains as the description thereof proceeds.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals or reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic plan view of the automatic stem and mount making machine having the hook forming assembly or mechanism of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a finished filament mount for an incandescent lamp.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the complete cycle of operation of the hook former assembly of our invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the hook forming assembly of our invention and its associated drive mechanisms.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view partially in section of the hook forming assembly of Fig. 4 and a filament mount assembly, the lead-in Wires of which are to be provided with hooks.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the hook forming assembly along the line VIVI in the direction of the arrows and showing the former block in its uppermost position.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the former block shown in Fig. 6 and showing the inner portions of the lead-in wires in position within the hook formers preparatory to the hook forming operation.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 and showing the hooks formed in the inner ends of the lead-in wires.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the hook former block in the down or lead wire stretching position;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the hook former block and hook former dies in the up or retraction position preparatory to the swingable retraction of the dies from the hooks formed in the inner ends of the lead-in wires.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and particularly to Fig. 2 the reference numeral 10 designates a filament mount. This mount has a stem 12 which may comprise a pair of lead-in wires 14 and 16, sealed through a press 18 of a flare 20. An exhaust tubulation 22 is sealed to the lower portion of the press 18 and provided with a suitable exhaust hole through the side Wall of the flare 20. An arbor or center support 24 projects from the top of the press 18 and carries a plurality of filament supports 26 for intermittently supporting a filament 30. The legs" or ends of filament 30 are clamped within suitable hooks 32 provided in the inner ends of the lead-in wires 14 and Patented Jan. 21, 1958 16 by a hook forming assembly or mechanism 50, Figs. 4 through 10, of our invention.

Automatic stem and mount making machine Referring now to Fig. 1 the reference numeral 60 designates an automatic stem and mount making machine wherein the hook forming assembly 50 of our invention is incorporated. This machine 60 has a conveyor type turret 62 mounted on a stationary frame 63 for carrying a plurality of stem and mount supporting heads 64, for example 61, in the present showing, which are indexable through a like number of work stations by a conventional indexing mechanism 66, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1.

At Station 61 a flare 21] may be loaded into a head 64 by hand or by automatic means. A flare detector (not indicated) at Station 1 may deenergize (if the head 62 is unloaded) or energize a lead-in wire loader at Stations 2 and 3 for feeding the lead-in wires 14 and 16. A lead-in wire detector (not indicated) at Station 4 likewise controls the operation of a loader of an exhaust tube 22 at Station 5. At Station 6 an exhaust tube detector (not indicated) and a flare push-down device (not indicated) may be employed. An exhaust tube pushdown device (not indicated) at Stations 7 through 10 may seat the exhaust tube 22 properly with respect to the flare 20, so that a Sllfi'iCiEllt length of the tube 22 projects beyond the flare to later form the arbor 24, as hereinafter explained.

From Station 7 through 30, the flare 21 exhaust tubulation 22, and lead wires 14 and 16 are heated by stationary fires provided in an outer and inner manifold adjacent these stations. A stem 12 may be formed by means of a first and second stem pressing operation, as for example at Stations 21 and 26 respectively. From Stations 23 through 25 the exhaust tube blow-out hole in the flare 2t and the tubulation 22 may be provided.

At Station 34 the lead wires 14 and 16 may be properly positioned in parallel alignment with the exhaust tube 22. Button forming fires at Stations 36 through 38 heat the end of the exhaust tube 22 to form the button 34 preparatory to insertion of the support wires 26 at Station 39. A no-blowout detector (not indicated) and a blow-out and support wire detector (not indicated) may be employed at Stations 40" and 41 respectively. The leads 14 and 16 may be trimmed and flattened at Station 42. The hook forming assembly 50 of our invention at Station 45 forms a hook 32 in the trimmed and flattened lead-in wires 14 and 16.

At Station 47 a filament may be inserted into the now formed hooks 32 in the lead wires 14 and 16 and the filament 30 may be clamped therein.

At Station 50 the lead-in wires 14 and 16 may be positioned (i. e. moved away) to permit entrance of the support wire curling dies which curl the supports 26 about filament 36 at Station 5. Lead-in wires 14 and 16 and the curled support wires 26 may be adjusted automatically to specified alignment at Stations 54 and 55 respectively. At Station 56 the filament mount 10 may be dipped in getter. At Station 58 the jaws of the head 64 may be opened to permit the removal therefrom of the finished mount 10 from the machine 60.

Hook forming assembly The hook forming assembly or mechanism 50 (Figs. 4-10) has a bifurcated support bracket 100 which is adjustably mounted by means of a vertical portion and suitable bolts to the side rails of the frame 63 of the machine 60 (Fig. 5). The height of the effective hook forming is controlled by the vertical adjustment of the bracket 100 with respect to the rails. Horizontal adjustment of the bracket 1% (when the machine 60 is hot) controls the horizontal position of the assembly 50. The bracket 100 has a top platform 102 (Figs. 4 and 5) 4 which is suitably provided with lugs or hubs 104. A pivotable mounting bracket 106 of generally hollow configuration is pivotable on a shaft 108 extending through the lower left portion (when viewed in Figs. 4 and 5) of the bracket 106 and the hubs 104.

This mounting bracket 106 carries an adjustable stop 119 on the right hand end (when viewed in Fig. 4) of its bottom. plate. The stop 1113 engages the top plate 102 of the support bracket 160, thus limiting the pivotable or rocking motion of the mounting bracket 166. A mounting bracket pivoting or rocking mechanism 112 is secured to the right hand end (when viewed in Fig. 4) of the mounting bracket 106.

Rocking mechanism This rocking or oscillating mechanism 112 (Figs. 4 and 5) has a pivot pin 114 projecting from the side wall of the mounting bracket 1126. A connecting rod 116 connects the pivot pin 114 to a second lever pin 118 carried by a spring biased cam roller lever 120. The lever 120 is pivotable on a lever shaft 122 of the machine 60. The free end of the lever 121) carries a cam roller, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, which engages a hook forming assembly rocking cam 124 on a main cam shaft 126 of the machine 60.

A top plate 130 of the mounting bracket 106, Figs. 4, 5 and 6, carries a hook former block 132.

Hook former As shown particularly in Fig. 6, the hook former block 132 is in slidable engagement with a pair of guide pins 134 upstanding from the plate 131 Springs 136, in suitable recesses in the lower portion of the hook former block 132, encircle the guide pins 134 and resiliently spring bias the hook former block 132 with respect to the mounting bracket 106.

As shown particularly in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the former block 132 carries (between the pins 134) a pair of hook forming dies 138 and 140 rotatable respectively on shafts 142 and 144 which extend through the block 132. The dies 138 and 140 are provided with lead-in wire engaging slots. Below the shafts 142 and 144 the upper end of the connecting rod 145 of a lead-in wire stretching and die unseating device is secured, as by a suitable bolt or screw (Fig. 6) to the former block 132.

This guide 145 is reciprocable in a suitable bushing in the top plate 130 of the mounting bracket 106 and extends (Fig. 5) axially between the side walls of the mounting bracket 106 a substantial distance below the former block 132. The lower end of the rod 145 is suitably threaded and carries two pairs of adjustable check nuts 147 and 148 thereon for use, as hereinafter explained.

When viewed in Fig. 4, the left hand hook forming die shaft 142 carries a long drive gear 149 which is engageable with a rack 150 of a hook forming drive mechanism 152. The gear 149' also engages a short driven gear 154 carried by the right hand hook forming die shaft 144, as viewed in Fig. 4.

Hook forming drive mechanism The rack 150 of the hook forming drive mechanism 152 is secured, as by bolts, to the upper end of a slide plate (Fig. 5). This plate 160 is vertically reciprocable in a suitable guide 162 carried on the left hand end, when viewed in Fig. 5, of the mounting bracket 106. It will be understood that the slide 160 extends substantially below the guide 162 and carries a connecting rod guide or angle. 163 Figs. 4 and 5 of the, lead-in wire stretching and die unseating device, the horizontal portion of which rides on the lower threaded portion of the connecting rod 145 between the pairs of check nuts 147 and 148. The lower end of the. slide 160' is connected by means of a pivot pin 164 to an adjustable connecting rod 166 (Figs. 4 and 5).

The lower end of the connecting rod 166 is joined by means of a suitable lever pin to a cam lever 168 (Fig. 4)

pivotable on a second lever shaft 170, of the machine 60. The lever 168 carries a cam roller 172 (Fig. 4) which is held in spring biased engagement with a hook forming cam 174. This cam 174 carries a slightly raised portion or an adjustable hook forming die unseating segment 176, which motivates the die unseating operation of the lead-in wire stretching and unseating device.

Lead-in wire stretching and die unseating device The lead-in wire stretching and die unseating device comprises essentially the connecting rod 145 (Fig. 4) depending from the former block 132, the lower check nuts 147 on the rod 145, and the guide 163 carried by the slide 160. The hook forming drive mechanism 152 operates the device. In the case of the die unseating operation the segment 176 on the cam 174, more particularly, operates the device.

It will be understood that the continued downward motion of the slide 160 brings the guide 163 in contact with the check nuts 148, thus causing the former block 132 to move downwardly, any desired distance (as indicated in Fig. 5) with respect to the top plate 130 of the mounting bracket 106. This motion of the block 132, taking place after the hook forming operation (Fig. 3), stretches the lead-in wires 14 and 16.

Engagement of the roller 172 (Fig. 5) with segment 176 of the hook forming cam 174 (after the lead-in wire stretching operation Fig. 3) raises the slide 160 and hence the guide 163 any desired distance. The springs 136 (Fig. 6) about the guide pins 134 raise the former block 132 and hence the dies 138 and 140 the same distance, thus preventing rotation of the dies and unseating the dies from the lead-in wires 14 and 16 without distortion thereto. It will be understood that the cam roller 172 is maintained in engagement with the cam 174 as, for example, by means of a spring 180 extending between an anchor pin carried by the slide 160 (Fig. 4) and a second anchor pin. carried as, for example, as shown in Fig. 4, by the support bracket 100.

Operation of the hook forming assembly As a stem and mount head 64, carrying the stem 12, indexes into Station 45 (Fig. 3) the mounting bracket 100 carrying the hook forming dies 138 and 140 is in its extreme back position (the dotted position shown in Fig. 5). The rack 150 of the hook forming drive mechanism 15 2 (Fig. 3) is moving upwardly, thus pivoting the lead-in wire engaging slots of the hook forming dies 138 and 140 to their vertical or lead-in wire engaging positions (shown in Fig. 7). The rack 150 is moved upwardly (through lever 168, rod 166 and slide 160) by the hook forming cam 174. The upward movement of the rack 150 is limited by the engagement of the check nuts 147 with a shoulder in the mounting bracket 106 (Fig. 5).

A lead-in Wire guide, a portion of which is shown in Fig. 5 is mounted on the top plate 102 and has a fixed jaw 201 and a spring biased movable jaw 202 which is pivotable by the rocking of mounting block 106 in the same direction as the block 106 until the jaw 202 strikes a stop (not shown) carried by the lead-in wire guide. The guide aligns the lead-in wires 14 and 16 with the now vertical lead wire engaging slots of the hook forming dies 138 and 140.

As the stem head 64 comes to rest at Station 45 of the machine 60, the rocking cam 124 on the cam lever shaft 126 pivots the mounting bracket 106 (by means of the lever 120 and the rod 116) into a vertical position (Fig. 5). The stop screw 110 on the bottom plate of the bracket 106, limits the motion of bracket 106 and comes to rest on the top plate 102 of the supporting bracket 100 (Fig. 5).

When the mounting block 106 pivots forward to the right (when viewed in Fig. 5) from the dotted position to the solid position shown therein, the lead wire engaging slots in the hook forming dies 138 and 140 straddle the lead-in wires 14 and 16 without disturbing them. To aid the lead-in wires 14 and 16 in reaching the bottom of the lead wire engaging slots in thedies 138 and 140, the movable jaw 202 pivotable with mounting block 106 of the lead-in wire guide closes with the stationary jaw 201, thus pushing the lead-in wires 14 and 16 into the slots (Fig. 7).

When the mounting bracket 106 reaches its extreme forward position (Fig. 5) with the hook forming dies 138 and 140 straddling the lead-in wires 14 and 16, the hook forming cam 174 on the main cam shaft 126 of the machine 60 (through lever 168 and rod 166) pulls down the slide 160 and the rack 152 carried thereby. This downward movement of the rack 152 rotates the long drive gear 149, the shaft 142 and the forming die 138 in a clockwise direction. The short driven gear 154, the shaft 144 and the forming die 140 are simultaneously rotated in a counterclockwise direction, thus forming the desired hooks 32 in the inner ends of the lead-in wires 14 and 16 (Fig. 8).

The continued. downward motion of the slide 160 causes the connecting rod guide 163 of the lead-in wire stretching and die unseating device to engage the lower pair of check nuts 148 on the rod giving the rod 145, and the former block 132 carried thereon, a very slight downward pull and resultant downward movement in the order of about .010" (Fig. 9). This slight additional downward motion of the former block 132 straightens the lead-in wires 14 and 16. At this point in the operating cycle the rack is in its low position.

Shortly thereafter as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the cam roller 172 on the lever 168 engages the hook forming die unseating segment 176 of the hook forming cam 174 thus causing the connecting rod 166, the slide and the connecting rod guide 173 to move upwardly a distance in the order of about .010." The upward movement of the guide 173 permits the springs 136 on the guide pins 134 to move the former block 132 upwardly a similar distance and prevent rotation of the hook forming dies 138 and 140. The upward movement of the hook former block 132 unseats the hook former dies 138 and 140 (Fig. 10) from the hooks 32 formed in the lead-in wires 14 and 16, and allows the mounting block 106 to pivot backwardly to its neutral position (the dotted position shown in Fig. 5) without displacing or distorting the lead-in wires 14 and 16.

As shown particularly in Fig. 3, a short time after the formingblock 132 has reached its normally up position, the rocking cam 124 moves the mounting bracket 106 backwardly to the dotted position shown in Fig. 5.

At the beginning of the next cycle (Fig. 3), as the machine 60 starts to index, the hook forming cam 174 reverses the motion of the slide 160 and the rack 152 carried thereon, thus bringing the lead-in wire engaging slots in the hook forming dies 138 and 140 to the vertical or lead-in wire engaging position.

Although a preferred embodiment of my invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A hook forming assembly for an automatic stem and mount making machine having a frame, for forming hooks in the lead-in wires of an incandescent lamp stem and comprising support means on said frame, a mounting bracket oscillatable on said support means, a rocking mechanism on said frame for oscillating said mounting bracket, a former block resiliently reciprocable on said mounting bracket, rotatable hook forming dies on said former block, a hook forming drive mechanism reciprocable on said mounting bracket and carried by said frame for rotating said dies, 21 lead-in wire straightening and die unseating device connected to said former block and carried by said hook forming drive mechanism for moving said former block downwardly a predetermined amount with respect to said mounting bracket after the hook forming operation. to straighten said lead-in wires and then upwardly to unseat said dies from the hooks after said straightening operation.

2. A hook forming assembly for an automatic stem and mount making machine having a frame, for forming hooks in the lead-in wires of an incandescent lamp stem and comprising support means on said frame, a mounting bracket oscillatable on said support means, a rocking mechanism on said frame for oscillating said mounting bracket and having a connecting rod on said mounting bracket, a bell crank lever on said rod, and a rocking cam in engagement with said lever, a former block resiliently reciprocable on said mounting bracket, rotatable hook forming dies on said former block, a hook forming drive mechanism reciprocable on said mounting bracket and carried by said frame for rotating said dies, at lead-in wire straightening and die unseating device connected to said former block and carried by said hook forming drive mechanism for moving said former block downwardly a predetermined amount with respect to said mounting bracket after the hook forming operation to straighten said lead-in wires and then upwardly to unseat said dies from the hooks after said straightening operation.

3. A hook forming assembly for an automatic stern and mount making machine having a frame, for forming hooks in the lead-in wires of an incandescent lamp stem and comprising support means on said frame, a mounting bracket oscillatable on said support means, a rocking mechanism on said frame for oscillating said mounting bracket, a former block resiliently reciprocable on spring biased guide pins projecting from said mounting bracket, rotatable hook forming dies on said former block, a hook forming drive mechanism reciprocable on said mounting bracket and carried by said frame for rotating said dies, a lead-in wire straightening and die unseating device connected to said former block and carried by said hook forming drive mechanism for moving said former block downwardly a predetermined amount with respect to said mounting bracket after the hook forming operation to straighten said lead-in wres and then upwardly to unseat said dies from the books after said straightening operation.

4. A hook forming assembly for an automatic stem and mount making machine having a frame, for forming hooks in the lead-in wires of an incandescent lamp stem and comprising support means on said frame, a mounting bracket oscillatable on said support means, a rocking mechanism on said frame for oscillating said mounting bracket, a former block resiliently reciprocable on said mounting bracket, rotatable hook forming dies on said former block, a hook forming drive mechanism reciprocable on said mounting bracket and carried by said frame for rotating said dies, said hook forming drive mechanism having a slide plate reciprocable in said mounting bracket, a rack carried by said slide plate for engagement with meshing gears on said hook formers, a connecting rod in said slide, a bell crank lever on said rod, and a hook forming cam in engagement with said lever, a lead-in wire straightening and die unseating device connected to said former block and carried by said hook forming drive mechanism for moving said former block downwardly a predetermined amount with respect to said mounting bracket after the hook forming operation to straighten said lead-in wires and then upwardly to unseat said dies from the hooks after said straightening operation.

5. A hook forming assembly for an automatic stem and mount making machine having a frame, for forming hooks in the lead-in wires of an incandescent lamp stem and comprising support means on said frame, a mounting bracket oscillatable on said support means, a rocking mechanism on said frame for oscillating said mounting bracket, a former block resiliently reciprocable on said mounting bracket, rotatable hook forming dies on said former block, a hook forming drive mechanism reciprocable on said mounting bracket and carried by said frame for rotating said dies, a lead-in wire straightening and die unseating device connected to said former block and carried by said hook forming drive mechanism for moving said former block downwardly a predetermined amount with respect to said mounting bracket after the hook forming operation to straighten said lead-in wires and then upwardly to unseat said dies from the hooks after said straightening operation, said lead-in wire straightening and die unseating device having a connecting rod depending from said former block, a guide limitedly slidable on said rod and carried by said hook forming drive mechanism, and means on said rod for limiting the relative movement between said rod and said guide.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,907,533 Flaws May 9, 1933 2,034,653 Flaws Mar. 17, 1936 2,085,578 Flaws June 29, 1937 2,626,637 Coughlin Jan. 27, 1953 

